3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
average quality but she did research it, Oct 3 2004
By TammyJo Eckhart "TammyJo Eckhart" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Amazon and the Warrior (Mass Market Paperback)
As both a writer and a historian I am always pleased when it is clear that someone has done research. Unfortunately, while it is very obvious that Hand has done more than average layperson research into the Amazon legend, especially the Achilles & Penthesileia legend, she does not pull the story out well. For example, I could forgive the embellishments to the narrative, it is, afterall, a very short legend only truly expanded in Late Antiquity to anything than just the battle. But there are too many characters who get their own chapters in this book. Given the title I wanted the book to focus on Penthesileia and Damonides -- when it did, it was very well written and interesting to read. Instead we seem to spend time in several characters' heads and it gets distracting. Also in the first part of the book, Achilles et al take off for Amazon regions and the Amazons know they are there but nothing happens -- why was that even in there? Overall disappointed.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but takes some liberties with history, July 30 2004
By A. B White - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Amazon and the Warrior (Mass Market Paperback)
"The Amazon and the Warrior" is entertaining, but is a fairly broad interpretation of the legend of the Trojan War. Judith Hand is great for putting her characters in the middle of the action. It's great summer reading, but for a better view of the Trojan War from the women's point of view, I recommend "The Firebrand" by Marion Zimmer Bradley.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
fabulous retelling of Ancient saga, Jun 5 2005
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Amazon and the Warrior (Mass Market Paperback)
Just across from Troy, the Greek Commander and the mightiest of warriors Achilles and a few of his men killed the Amazon warrior mother of the then young Penthesilea and apparently abducted her sister. Pentha watched in fear and hiding. Vowing to kill the invincible Achilles, Pentha joined her mother's people. Several years later Pentha is the Warrior Queen of the Amazons.
Pentha meets Damonides when he helps her escape from a simple rope trap by catching her as she tumbled to the ground. They become lovers, but disagree about what to do about the Greeks who have laid siege on Troy. Pentha feels this is her opportunity to avenge her mother's death while Damon, once a great warrior, has turned away from the sword and opposes her plan of attacking the Greeks at the walls of Troy. He fears for her and her people as the odds would be overwhelming even with surprise on their side. She says after Troy Achilles will come for Themskyra. He knows he will back his beloved though he prefers the plow to the sword having seen death first hand.
THE AMAZON AND THE WARRIOR is a fabulous retelling of one of the legendary short sagas of Ancient Greece. When title characters are on center stage, the plot is filled with action, plenty of romance, and a feel for the era through she as a warrior queen and he a retired warrior wary of war. However, when the author heroically brings the depths and other perspectives of other heroes, the plot creaks from sidebar overload. Still, this is a fine read because Ms. Hand provides an enthralling look at the Ancients.
Harriet Klausner